I prefer not to become a martyr on the basis of being denied entry anymore than I want to be a martyr on the basis of being denied tenure. I want to be judged on what I do, not on what is done to me.

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One has to be impressed with such modesty. Yet suffering whether induced by the denial of tenure or the loss of freedom in a foreign land as the result of persecution for words written or spoken, does merit our greatest concern and support. I do believe Dr Finkelstein is a heroic figure and when actions lead to such egregious consequences, then suffering becomes a public issue and its mitigation our concern.

What Dr Finkelstein did was attempt to travel to the occupied territories. What he did was risk his freedom by landing at Ben Gurion Airport. Part of assessing courage is not merely what one does but the consequences of those actions that are anticipated as possible in advance. Leaving aside the issue of martyrdom, which the former DePaul University professor abjured as well in the Haaretz interview, he certainly should be commended and lauded for his courage, risk taking and central mission of giving voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless and a homeland to the homeless.

I also find it most disturbing that the son of Holocaust survivors would end up in a jail at Ben Gurion Airport in the State of Israel for attempting to travel to the occupied territories that President Jimmy Carter described as subjected to an apartheid regime. Apparently the right of return does not apply to those who question Israeli foreign policy or refuse to subscribe to a blind xenophobic, Zionist fervour.